Portable food product container

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and method for temporarily fastening a food package to a support surface. A portable food package includes at least one compartment having a plurality of side walls, adapted to provide lateral support to contain food product within the food compartment, and a substantially planar bottom attached to the side walls. The bottom has an inner side disposed in the food compartment and an underside disposed outside of the food compartment. The portable food package also includes an adhesive strip affixed to the underside of the bottom, the adhesive strip adapted to temporarily adhere the bottom of the food package to a substantially horizontal support surface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document relates to food containers, and more particularly portablefood containers adapted to temporarily affix to a support surface.

BACKGROUND

Eating and traveling share a long history. For centuries, travelers havesought to pass the time journeying with meals and refreshments. Intoday's busy, time-sensitive culture of drive-thru's, condensedschedules, and long, daily commutes, eating-on-the-go has become evenmore common, drivers and passengers seeking to “multi-task” during theirmeals. Responding to the dine-and-travel demand, designers of modernvehicles have conceived and installed dining cars in locomotives, buffetbanquets in cruise ships, and stowed trays in airplanes. Indeedenterprising travel providers have built meal services into the fares ofnearly every mode of mass transportation. The design of personalvehicles has also been adapted in many ways to cater to the (literal)appetites of their passengers, cup holders and retractable food traysoften gracing modern automobile interiors. In higher-occupancy andluxury vehicles, passengers sometimes enjoy even more exotic eating anddrinking accommodations, such as retractable tables, refrigerators, winecoolers, kitchenettes, and other amenities.

Despite the convenience of eating on the go, nearly all modernpassengers can attest that with eating while traveling, comes spillingwhile traveling. Vehicles, by definition, move, making eating difficult.Consequently, many of the in-vehicle eating accommodations take intoaccount that eating and drinking surfaces in a train or car or planewill shift, tilt, vibrate, shake, or jolt while the vehicle is inmotion. For example, designers make cup holders deep in order to providesufficient lateral support for drink containers otherwise prone to tipas cars stop and turn. Trays and tables in mass transport vehicles areoften provided with raised lips and other indentations to prevent dishesand food items from slipping off of the trays. Indeed, in some moderncars, the top of the center console has been shaped like a shallow dishor tray, providing a convenient platform for food, as well as othervaluables, easily reachable by the driver or other passengers. Whilemost in-vehicle eating accommodations have been implemented within thevehicles themselves, some foods and food containers have been designedwith the in-vehicle diner in mind. For example, drink cups and otherfood containers have been developed with dimensions conforming totypical in-vehicle cup holders, allowing the food containers to becup-holder compatible.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for temporarily fastening a foodpackage to a support surface. A portable food package can include atleast one compartment having a plurality of side walls adapted toprovide lateral support to contain food product within the foodcompartment, and a substantially planar bottom attached to the sidewalls. The bottom can have an inner side disposed in the foodcompartment and an underside disposed outside of the food compartment.An adhesive strip can be affixed to the underside of the bottom, theadhesive strip adapted to temporarily adhere the bottom of the foodpackage to a substantially horizontal support surface.

The food package can further include a removable outer wrapper enclosingthe entire food package. A portion of the outer wrapper can be adaptedas a removable backer so that, when the backer is removed, an adhesivesurface of the adhesive strip is exposed. The food package can furtherinclude a removable top closure adapted to seal food product within theat least one compartment. The top closure can be a film adapted to coveran upper opening formed by the compartment side walls. The film can bean impermeable plastic film adapted to reattach and reseal thecompartment after being opened. The compartment walls terminate at anupper end with outwardly disposed flanges adapted for receiving the topclosure. The compartment and bottom can be a unitary piece and can bemade of thermoformed plastic. In some implementations, the compartmentand bottom can be made from at least one of cardstock, cardboard, orpolystyrene.

In some aspects, the food package can be a disposable package adaptedfor one-time use. The adhesive strip affixed to the food package canhave an adhesive surface having a removable backer, wherein the backer,when removed, exposes the adhesive surface. The adhesive strip can covermore than half of the surface area of the bottom. In otherimplementations, the adhesive strip can cover less than half of thesurface area of the bottom. The adhesive strip can include a pluralityof adhesive pieces. The bottom can be generally rectangular having alongitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension, the longitudinaldimension longer than the lateral dimension, with the at least oneadhesive strip oriented in the longitudinal dimension. The adhesivestrip can approximate the perimeter of the bottom of the food package.In some implementations, the adhesive strip can have a rounded geometry.The substantially horizontal support surface can be a console of a motorvehicle.

In another general aspect, a food package can be temporarily fastened toan automobile console. The food package can have at least one foodcompartment having a plurality of side walls adapted to provide lateralsupport to contain food product within the food compartment, and asubstantially planar bottom attached to the side walls. The bottom canhave an inner side disposed in the food compartment and an undersidedisposed outside of the food compartment. The food package can also havean adhesive strip affixed to the underside of the bottom, the adhesivestrip adapted to temporarily adhere the bottom of the food package to asupport surface. The adhesive strip, fastened to the underside of thefood package, can be exposed. The exposed adhesive strip can be appliedto a substantially horizontal support surface of an automobile console.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth inthe accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedescription and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a food container temporarily adhered toa surface of a vehicle.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an example food container having anadhesive strip for temporarily securing the container to a supportsurface.

FIG. 2B is a front view of the example food container of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C is a side view of the example food container of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2D is a perspective view of the example food container of FIGS.2A-2C including a reattachable film closure.

FIG. 2E is a perspective view of the example food container of FIGS.2A-2C including an outer wrapper.

FIG. 3A is a bottom view of an example food container having an adhesivestrip showing a first implementation of the adhesive strip fortemporarily securing the container to a support surface.

FIG. 3B is a bottom view of an example food container having an adhesivestrip showing a second implementation of the adhesive strip fortemporarily securing the container to a support surface.

FIG. 3C is a bottom view of an example food container having an adhesivestrip showing a third implementation of the adhesive strip fortemporarily securing the container to a support surface.

FIG. 3D is a bottom view of an example food container having an adhesivestrip showing a fourth implementation of the adhesive strip fortemporarily securing the container to a support surface.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

While few existing food containers are specifically adapted for use inmoving vehicles, those that are typically have geometries designed tohelp the container adapt to the unsteady conditions of the travelingvehicle. For example, cups have been specifically designed withdimensions suited to fit within a standard vehicle cup holder. Adaptingthe physical dimensions of the food container, however, limits thepotential applicability of the specific container design. First, thecontainer's design is only compatible with those vehicles havingfeatures and dimensions conforming to the particular container design.Second, the dimensions of a food container can constrain what types offood product the food container can contain. For example, while smallcandies, beverages, or other bite-sized snack items may be able to fitwithin a container adapted to fit within a cup holder, a substantialnumber of food products cannot. Overcoming both of these shortcomings isa geometry-independent food container, adapted to temporarily adhere tosurfaces within a vehicle, so as to position the food container near thedriver or other vehicle occupant and keep the container and its contentsfrom tipping or sliding during travel. Additionally, the container canbe equipped with deep food compartments, as well as a resealable lid orpackage, to further assist in keeping food secure within the package.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example food container 100, in use within avehicle. In this particular example, the food container 100 istemporarily adhered to a support surface comprising a center console 110of an automobile, such as a car, truck, van, or sport-utility vehicleusing an adhesive device 105. In other examples, the food container 100can be secured to any number of other support surfaces within thevehicle. For example, the food container 100 can be secured to a frontdashboard, adjacent passenger seat, arm rest, or other surface. In oneimplementation, the food container is secured using an adhesive strip105, capable of adhering to surfaces of the vehicle. In some instances,the adhesive strip 105 may possess sufficient adhesive characteristicsto adhere to nearly any surface within the vehicle, regardless ofsurface types. These might include a leather or fabric-upholstered seat,vinyl or other plastic surface. In other instances, to avoid damage tosurfaces sensitive to certain adhesives or the removal of adhesives, theadhesive or glue used in the adhesive strip may be tailored to adhere tocertain surface types and materials, such as plastics or hard vinyl usedin an automobile interior. In other examples a weak adhesive may beused, chosen for its ease of removal from the vehicle surface.

FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of an example food container 200having an adhesive device 205 fixed to a bottom surface of the foodcontainer 200. The adhesive device 205 can allow the food container 200to be temporarily secured to a support surface of a vehicle, such as asurface of an automobile console, as illustrated in the example ofFIG. 1. The food container 200 can be equipped with rigid side walls 210and 215, to form one or more compartments in which the food product 220can be stored. Although the compartment walls 210, 215 shown in FIG. 2Aform a single rectangular compartment for housing food product 220, thedimensions and geometry of the container 200 and compartments within thecontainer 200, can be specially adapted to the size, shape, quantity,and physical characteristics of the food product to be housed in thecontainer 200. For instance, instead of a rectangular container, an ovalor rounded container, with a rounded wall can be provided. In otherinstances, a container including a plurality of compartments can beprovided. The compartments can be shaped to correspond with the geometryof the food product to be contained therein, providing more securecontainment of the food product.

The walls, compartments, and base of the food container 200 can beassembled as a unitary piece or from distinct pieces. In someimplementations, the food container 200 can be a rigid, unitarycontainer formed from a thermoformed plastic sheet. In otherimplementations, the food container can be formed of other common andfuture packaging materials such as cardstock, polystyrene, or cardboard.In some instances, additional pieces, such as plastic, cardboard, orpaper dividers can be provided within the container to form individualcompartments within the container. Other features can also beimplemented in the container structure, including the container walls,such as ribbing and bracing to enhance the structural characteristicsand protective capacity of the food container.

As shown in the front and side views of FIGS. 2B and 2C respectively,the compartment walls 210, 215 can be designed to be of sufficientheight that they prevent food product 220 from tipping out of thecontainer 200. For example, while the bottom 222 of the container can betemporarily secured to a support surface within a vehicle using adhesivedevice 205, keeping the container 200 from sliding or falling from thesupport surface, the orientation of the container can nonetheless changewith the vehicle support surface itself as the vehicle banks, or climbsand descends uneven surfaces. In a container 200 holding food withdimensions exceeding the height of the container walls 210, 215, tiltingthe secured container 200 can nonetheless result in the food 220 tippingover the container wall and spilling, even while the container 200 isadhered to the vehicle.

Additionally, in some instances, as shown in FIG. 2D, the food container200 can include a top closure comprising a re-attachable film 225 orlid, to further secure food within the container 200 and/or assist inmaintaining the freshness of the food product in the container 200.Outwardly-extending flanges 230 can be provided at the top of thecompartment walls 210, 215, the flanges 230 adapted to cooperate withresealable surfaces of the film 225. For instance, an adhesive can beprovided on the outer edges of the film 225 and/or on the flanges 230,allowing the film 225 to reattach to the flange 230 after the film 225has been initially opened.

The reattachable film 225, or lid, provided with the food container 200,can serve not only to secure food product within the container 200, butalso to seal the food product 220 within the container 200, preservingthe freshness of the food product 220. Indeed, the design of the film225, rigid walls 210, 215, and rigid base can serve to protect the foodproduct 220 as it is delivered through a product supply chain. Container200 can be a disposable container adapted to protect and seal the foodproduct 220 during transportation of the food product 220 from amanufacturing facility, to retailers, and then on to consumers.Additional packaging can also be provided to further protect and sealthe food product. For example, as illustrated FIG. 2E, the container 200and food product 220 can be delivered in an outer wrapper 250, forexample, a sealed cellophane, paper, or other package provided aroundthe outside of container 200. Such additional packaging, such as acellophane bag, can also be useful to protect and preserve the integrityof the adhesive strip 205 provided on an otherwise exposed outer surfaceof the container 200.

Turning now to FIGS. 3A-3C, various implementations of adhesive devices205 are shown, attached to a rigid bottom surface 222 of a foodcontainer 200. The dimensions, shape, and orientation of the adhesivedevice 205, can be adapted to the form and shape of the container,including the shape of the bottom surface 222, the perimeter of thecontainer 200, as well as the expected weight distribution of foodproduct within the container 200. For instance, in FIG. 3A, a singleadhesive strip 205 can be provided, centered and running the length ofthe container 200. The adhesive strip 205 can include a removable backer305. Removing the backer 305 from the adhesive strip 205 can expose anadhesive surface 310 of the strip 205. The backer 305 can protect andpreserve the adhesive surface 310 until the a user is ready to exposethe adhesive surface 310 and secure the container 200 to a surface usingthe adhesive strip 205. In some instances the backer 305 can be adaptedto reapply to the adhesive surface 310, allowing for the container 200to be secured, removed, and re-secured to a surface during the life ofthe adhesive strip 205 and container 200. While the backer 305 is shownin FIG. 3A as a strip corresponding to the size and shape of theadhesive strip 205, in some implementations, the backer 305 can beprovided as or together with an outer packaging sleeve surrounding theentire container 200 (such as the example shown in FIG. 2E), to beremoved prior to using the container 200 and adhesive strip 205. Removalof the sleeve can thereby expose the adhesive surface 310 of theadhesive strip 205.

Adhesive strips and devices can take on other dimensions and geometries.For instance, while the adhesive strip 205 in FIG. 3A is shown as asingle, longitudinal strip, lateral strips can be provided. In theexample of FIG. 3B, a bottom surface 222 of a food container 200 isshown with a plurality of adhesive buttons 205, positioned at thecorners of the food container. Each button 205 can have its own backer305 or share a single backer 305. In still another example, shown inFIG. 3C, an adhesive strip 205 can be provided conforming to theperimeter of the underside 222 of the container 200. Other geometriescan also be provided, depending on the shape of the container 200 andmounting surface 222 of the container 200. For example, as shown in FIG.3D, a rounded adhesive strip 205, such as a circle, oval, or other shapewith rounded features, can be provided on bottom surface 222. A circularadhesive strip 205, such as shown in FIG. 3D, or donut-shaped strip 205,can also be adapted for use with a round or cylindrically-shapedcontainer 200 having a bottom surface with a rounded perimeter.Additionally, some strip geometries may provide greater or lesseradhesive support than others. Depending on the application, it may bedesirable to provide an adhesive strip 205 geometry that provides foradequate application of the strip to a vehicle support surface whilestill allowing a user to easily remove the strip and container from thevehicle support surface. For instance, a strip geometry can be selectedthat is less prone to ripping when a user attempts to remove the strip205. Providing for easy removal of the strip 205 can be an importantconsideration, as removal of the strip 205 could potentially result indamage to the container 200 or strip 205, and/or result in residualadhesive substance or strip sections adhered to the vehicle supportsurface after removal of the container.

In one instance the adhesive surface 310 is an adhesive mass of pressuresensitive or contact adhesive, allowing the user of the container 200 tosimply press the adhesive surface 310 against an adherent vehiclesurface to secure the container 200. This adhesive mass can be, forexample, rubber polymer, acrylic polymer, acrylic ester, silicon-based,or other adhesive substance capable of temporarily adhering the strip205 to a surface. The adhesive mass, on strip surface 310, can becarried on a film, foam tape, or other backer, making up the body ofstrip 205. The strip 205 can be permanently, or semi-permanently,adhered to the underside 222 of the container 200. Consequently, in someinstances both sides of the strip 205 can be manufactured so as to becoated in an adhesive, while in other applications, an epoxy, glue, orother bonding can be added to the underside 222 of the container or anon-adhesive side of the strip 205 to bond the strip 205 to thecontainer 200. In a preferred implementation, the adhesive used on thestrip surface adhering to the underside 222 of the container 200 isstronger than the adhesive mass on the strip surface 310 adapted toadhere to vehicle surfaces. This can assist in ensuring that, when thecontainer is removed from the vehicle surface, the adhesive strip 205 iscompletely removed from the vehicle surface and remains adhered to theunderside 222 of the container 200. With the adhesive strip 205 stillfixed to the underside 222 of the container 200, the adhesive strip 205,in some instances, can be reused. For example, a user may expose theadhesive side 310 of the strip, securing the container 200 within theuser's vehicle for one leg of a trip. After completing a first leg of ajourney, the user may have food product left over and desire to continueeating the food product from the securable container on a future leg ofthe trip. In some examples, the user could replace a backer 305 on theadhesive surface 310 of the strip 205, later re-exposing the adhesivesurface 310 when the user is ready to reapply the container 200 to avehicle surface, and resume the user's travels.

A number of embodiments of the invention have been described.Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the followingclaims.

1. A portable food package comprising: at least one compartment having:a plurality of side walls adapted to provide lateral support to containfood product within the food compartment, and a substantially planarbottom attached to the side walls, said bottom having an inner sidedisposed in the food compartment and an underside disposed outside ofthe food compartment; and an adhesive strip affixed to the underside ofthe bottom, the adhesive strip adapted to temporarily adhere the bottomof the food package to a substantially horizontal support surface. 2.The package of claim 1, wherein the substantially horizontal supportsurface is a console of a motor vehicle.
 3. The package of claim 1,wherein the compartment and bottom are a unitary piece.
 4. The packageof claim 3, wherein the unitary compartment and bottom are made ofthermoformed plastic.
 5. The package of claim 1, wherein the compartmentand bottom are made from at least one of cardstock, cardboard, orpolystyrene.
 6. The package of claim 1, wherein the adhesive stripcomprises an adhesive surface having a removable backer, wherein thebacker, when removed, exposes the adhesive surface.
 7. The package ofclaim 1, wherein the food package is a disposable package adapted forone-time use.
 8. The package of claim 1, further comprising a removableouter wrapper enclosing the entire food package.
 9. The package of claim8, wherein a portion of the outer wrapper is adapted as a removablebacker, wherein when the backer is removed, an adhesive surface of theadhesive strip is exposed
 10. The package of claim 1, further comprisinga removable top closure adapted to seal food product within the at leastone compartment.
 11. The package of claim 10, wherein the compartmentwalls terminate at an upper end with outwardly disposed flanges adaptedfor receiving the top closure.
 12. The package of claim 10, wherein thetop closure comprises a film adapted to cover an upper opening formed bythe compartment side walls.
 13. The package of claim 11, wherein thefilm is an impermeable plastic film.
 14. The package of claim 11,wherein the film is adapted to reattach and reseal the compartment afterbeing opened.
 15. The package of claim 1, wherein the adhesive stripcovers more than half of the surface area of the bottom.
 16. The packageof claim 1, wherein the adhesive strip covers less than half of thesurface area of the bottom.
 17. The package of claim 1, wherein theadhesive strip comprises a plurality of adhesive pieces.
 18. The packageof claim 1, wherein the bottom is generally rectangular having alongitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension, the longitudinaldimension longer than the lateral dimension, and the at least oneadhesive strip is oriented in the longitudinal dimension.
 19. Thepackage of claim 1, wherein the adhesive strip approximates theperimeter of the bottom of the food package.
 20. The package of claim 1,wherein the adhesive strip has a rounded geometry.
 21. A portable trayfor supporting food product in an automobile comprising: a compartmenthaving a substantially rigid bottom and substantially rigid side walls,the compartment adapted to serve as a delivery container for the foodproduct; an adhesive strip disposed on an outside surface of the bottomof the compartment, the adhesive strip adapted to temporarily adhere toan interior support surface of an automobile.
 22. A method fortemporarily fastening a food package to an automobile console, the foodpackage having at least one food compartment having a plurality of sidewalls adapted to provide lateral support to contain food product withinthe food compartment, and a substantially planar bottom attached to theside walls, the bottom having an inner side disposed in the foodcompartment and an underside disposed outside of the food compartment;and an adhesive strip affixed to the underside of the bottom, theadhesive strip adapted to temporarily adhere the bottom of the foodpackage to a support surface, the method comprising: exposing theadhesive strip fastened to the underside of the food package; andapplying the exposed adhesive strip to a substantially horizontalsupport surface of an automobile console.